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Post by podp on Sept 16, 2012 22:41:50 GMT 3
seeing the above reminded me of another 'fugitive' from fatwa “The act of migration,” Salman Rushdie wrote, “puts into crisis everything about the migrating individual or group, everything about identity and selfhood and culture and belief. So if this is a novel about migration it must be that act of putting in question. It must perform the crisis it describes.” And he wrote, “The Satanic Verses.” The book took more than four years to write. www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/09/17/120917fa_fact_rushdie#ixzz26ASMD7e6blood will have blood, just as the Holy Books talk of ‘an eye for an eye’ and the above url has all that is below in more details “The Satanic Verses” Salman Rushdie did recognize that Muslims in many parts of the world are genuinely distressed by the publication of his novel. He profoundly regretted the distress that publication has occasioned to sincere followers of Islam. Living as we do in a world of many faiths this experience has served to remind us that we must all be conscious of the sensibilities of others. To skulk and hide was to lead a dishonorable life. He felt, very often in those years, profoundly ashamed. Both shamed and ashamed. he was to give up his race as well. He would be an invisible man in whiteface. He had spent his life naming fictional characters. Now, by naming himself, he had turned himself into a sort of fictional character as well. There had been further rallies against “The Satanic Verses” in Paris, New York, Oslo, Kashmir, Bangladesh, Turkey, Germany, Thailand, the Netherlands, Sweden, Australia, and West Yorkshire. The toll of injuries and deaths had continued to rise. The novel had by now also been banned in Syria, Lebanon, Kenya, Brunei, Thailand, Tanzania, Indonesia, and elsewhere in the Arab world. some history ‘The building known as the Kaaba, or Cube, in the center of town, was dedicated to a deity named Allah, meaning “the god,” just as al-Lat was “the goddess.” Allah was unusual in that he didn’t specialize. He wasn’t a rain god or a wealth god or a war god or a love god; he was just an everything god. This failure to specialize may explain his relative unpopularity. People usually made offerings to gods for specific reasons: the health of a child, the future of a business enterprise, a drought, a quarrel, a romance. They preferred gods who were experts in their field to this nonspecific all-rounder of a deity. The man who would pluck Allah from near-obscurity and become his Prophet—transforming him into the equal, or at least the equivalent, of the Old Testament God “I Am” and the New Testament’s Three-in-One—was Muhammad ibn Abdullah of the Banu Hashim clan. His family had, in his childhood, fallen upon hard times; he was orphaned and lived in his uncle’s house. Muhammad ibn Abdullah earned a reputation as a skilled merchant and an honest man, and at the age of twenty-five he received a marriage proposal from an older, wealthier woman, Khadijah. For the next fifteen years, he was successful in business and happy in his marriage. However, he was also a man with a need for solitude, and for many years he spent weeks at a time living like a hermit in a cave on Mt. Hira. When he was forty, the Angel Gabriel disturbed his solitude there and ordered him to recite the verses that would eventually form a new holy book, the Koran. Naturally, Muhammad believed that he had lost his mind and fled. He returned to hear what the Angel had to say only after his wife and close friends convinced him that it might be worth a return trip up the mountain, just to check if God was really trying to get in touch.’ the incident of the “Satanic Verses.” ‘The Prophet came down from the mountain one day and recited verses from what would become Surah—or chapter—No. 53. It contained these words: “Have you thought on al-Lat and al-Uzza, and, thirdly, on Manat, the other? They are the Exalted Birds, and their intercession is desired indeed.” At a later point—was it days or weeks, or months?—Muhammad returned to the mountain and came down, abashed, to state that he had been deceived on his previous visit: the Devil had appeared to him in the guise of the Archangel, and the verses he had been given were therefore not divine but satanic and should be expunged from the Koran at once. The Archangel had, on this occasion, brought new verses from God, which were to replace the “Satanic Verses” in the great book: “Have you thought on al-Lat and al-Uzza, and, thirdly, on Manat, the other? Are you to have the sons, and He the daughters? This is indeed an unfair distinction! They are but names which you and your fathers have invented: God has vested no authority in them.” And in this way the recitation was purified of the Devil’s work. But the questions remained: Why did Muhammad initially accept the first, “false” revelation as true? And what happened in Mecca during the period between the two revelations, satanic and angelic? This much was known: Muhammad wanted to be accepted by the people of Mecca. “He longed for a way to attract them,” Ibn Ishaq wrote. And when the Meccans heard that he had acknowledged the three goddesses “they were delighted and greatly pleased.” Why, then, did the Prophet recant? Western historians (the Scottish scholar of Islam W. Montgomery Watt, the French Marxist Maxime Rodinson) proposed a politically motivated reading of the episode. The temples of the three goddesses were economically important to the city’s ruling élite, an élite from which Muhammad had been excluded—unfairly, in his opinion. So perhaps the deal that was offered ran something like this: If Muhammad, or the Archangel Gabriel, or Allah, agreed that the goddesses could be worshipped by followers of Islam—not as the equals of Allah, obviously, but as secondary, lesser beings, like, for example, angels, and there already were angels in Islam, so what harm could there be in adding three more, who just happened to be popular and lucrative figures in Mecca?—then the persecution of Muslims would cease, and Muhammad himself would be granted a seat on the city’s ruling council. And it was perhaps to this temptation that the Prophet briefly succumbed.’ For that Salman Rushdie had to disappear from normal life from late 80s to present. Like our MM he endured all sorts of accusations including ‘He did it for money. He did it for fame. The Jews made him do it. Nobody would have bought his unreadable book if he hadn’t vilified Islam. That was the nature of the attack, and so for many years “The Satanic Verses” was denied the ordinary life of a novel. It became something smaller and uglier: an insult. And he became the Insulter, not only in Muslim eyes but in the opinion of the public at large.’
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Post by podp on Sept 12, 2012 20:43:59 GMT 3
Njeru Githae understands his brief yes, as a hand-picked maiden of Uhuru Kenyatta, to chaperon the nobility finance-capital in Kenya. To protect conservative ill-gotten loot, real-estate, and their related financial scams. Conservative capital, as I use this term in Kenya, is scared of competition, is scared of investments which means risks --which is the true doctrine of a capitalism that expands the productive process and creates national wealth. Conservative capital is then more prone to control the state, this to ensure favour, easy deals, so that it can thrive by proximity to the state, rather than offering services which compete and of own strength... to sell for profit. Conservative capital needs the state to maintain, multiply and perpetuate itself. The state is its means of production so to speak. This is why it is called PARASITIC. It creates no wealth of its own outside control, ownership of the state.Her business, this conservative and impotent capital, is corruption. This is why Kenya looses [conservative estimate] 30% of her GDP per year to corruption. Estimated GDP being $33bn. If a ruling class is siphoning off half of that 30% by theft, what is their chief activity then? THEFT of course. and cover up. It is Njeru Githae's historical role to protect this kind of capital in this kind of business --THEFT. By hook and crook. This sets the stage for his demise, because a new entrepreneurial class can only rise up by competent competition in this global era. Chinese money, the biggest FDI source, will not be behaving like NGO western money, meant specifically to facilitate corruption amongst the elite to buy political favour. It is the prevalence of none risk taking, corrupt, lazy capital protected by the states, that has made it easy for China to make a killing in every sector of the African economy. There is practically no competition from the local entrepreneurial class, because there are no risk-takers. Everybody is feeding off the state. No parasite is competitive. The host dies, or it is removed from the host, it demises. Njeru Githae, is thus, in my opinion, a thing of the past. A lively worm on a rotting body as it is buried. ---------------- Here is an idea of how the contradictions of whistle-blowers are handled in a mature land. The Solomonic safety valve. part of the earlier post on UBS and the whistle-blower. www.nytimes.com/2012/09/12/business/whistle-blower-awarded-104-million-by-irs.html the red high lights you are spot on explaining our Comprador class who have a mobid contempt of property rights. that undoubtedly scares off potential investors who nurse the fear that they may be the next victims in the hands of a predatory regime hence flooding of Chinese substandard goods, European and western rejects (2nd hand goods) and architects of Goldenberg, Angloleasing, Maize, KKV etc. the role of Compradors is to take over and subvert key state institutions (civil service, judiciary, pariament, media, etc) we need to interrogate whose beck and interests do they serve? Why do we have poor governance given that good governance entails not only cognitive wherewithal but also the ability to compromise and bargain successfully with a plethora of competing groups. why do we have terrible at economic management? what should we do about the demise of domestic industries as cheap imports flood us? remember NARK government of 2002 and now the nusu mkate one? too often, opposition parties that set out to liberate their countries from tyranny win up selling out, fighting among themselves, and sowing seeds of discord. to defeat a tyrant in an election, a coalition of opposition parties must field only one presidential candidate. What happens when the candidate becomes a dictator as current PORK turned out after 2002 election hiding behind all and sundry including Nyeri business woman cum activist? beware of any dictator, weather brazen like mo1 or sleeping as current PORK. "The only good dictator is a dead one" wrote one George A in his latest classic Defeating Dictators: Fighting Tyranny in Africa and Around the World. the mess that the "Hippo" generation following decolonization made, and how it ruined the continent. his prescriptions, which amount to `Africans must solve their own problems in their own way. the "vampire states" and "coconut republics" whose undemocratic and illegitimate rulers have done more harm to their own people than any external agents examining what strategies worked in the struggle to establish democracy through revolution one lesson is never trust a guy or men who tell you they are reformers and keep retrogressive company. any political system that concentrates power in the hands of one person, George A argues, will inevitably degenerate into a dictatorship. the culprit is the system that abuses state power, electoral gerrymandering, merchants of impunity and rape of democracy--not ideology or culture. why did MM fall out with RAO? earlier Githongo with Kibaki? unyielding grip on power is the hallmark of every dictato. the only voice a dictator listens to is his own voice see return of UK? Mo1 sons and very soon Kibaki’s and RAO’s blood kinsmen. it is because dictators grow senile, and then they start to groom their sons, wives, and half-brothers to succeed them. African despots are notorious for these treasonous acts of insanity. and the great hangers on though highly educated with PhDs, (AG, ministers of Medical Services, Foreign Service, Higher Education, CBK Governor) a multitude of them have sold off their consciences, integrity and principles as they kowtow to the diktats of barbarous dictators. so who will bell the cat? dictator
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Post by podp on Sept 12, 2012 19:17:37 GMT 3
The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was set up by the Government of National Unity to help deal with what happened under apartheid. The conflict during this period resulted in violence and human rights abuses from all sides. No section of society escaped these abuses. The TRC was based on the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act, No 34 of 1995
www.justice.gov.za/trc/
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development invites individuals, who were declared eligible for reparation during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission(TRC), to claim their once-off payment of R30 000.
www.justice.gov.za/trc/reparations/index.htm
let us now focus on our which has no clearly explained policy for reparations and we have not had the molesters seek forgiveness, reconciliation or punishments for their misdeeds led by no other than the chairman of tjrc. Podp, I share some of your misgivings about the TJRC but before I get into that I would like soften your suggestion that the South African Truth Commission did a great job. It did not. It failed spectacularly on two important counts: (i) prosecutions of those who did not come foreward voluntarily to confess their crimes and (ii) reparations. Yes, a lot of people did come foreward voluntarily and confessed their crimes before the TRC. The TRC's sessions, broadcast live, became a very important source of information about the terrible Apartheid crimes. The fact that people sought forgiveness and that many (not all) showed genuine remorse, contributed to a climate of reconciliation. But it was not enough. The vast majority of those responsible for terrible crimes committed on both sides (Apartheid regime, liberation movements and others) never appeared before the Commission. Those against whom there was evidence should have been prosecuted. But that did not happen. So we are basically talking about selective justice. Also, the promised reparations took years to materialize and in the end the reparations approved by Thabo Mbeki as President were not even close to what has been envisaged. And yet many seem to think of the SA TRC as highly successful and a model for similar commissions. Did it live up to expectations? No, but in spite of that it did have significant impact, in SA as well as around the globe. That is why I am a little cautious when it comes to judging the Kenyan TJRC. It has not lived up to my expectations and yet I am willing to give it some benefit of the doubt until we have seen its final report. I think the hearings the TJRC conducted all over Kenya were a key aspect of its work. We do not yet know what the Commission will recommend on the basis of the hearings but they did provide an opportunity to air grievances that had been bottled up for decades. Ofcourse that in itself does not solve the problems but could it be the start of something better? I do not know what is in the draft report and until I have seen it I will not judge the commission too harshly. I am still hoping to be surprised, perhaps aginst hope. That being said, the return of Kiplagat to the TJRC, earlier this year, dented my growing optimism. He was probably allowed to return on the condition that he smoothe whatever rough edges there might be in the report... Those rough edges would be very unwelcome in the run-up to the 2013 elections. Conclusion for now: let's not throw away the baby with the bath water.Furaha red highlight no I will never throw the baby and basth water but why bath the baby in sewage water? if the Judiciary is reforming they are best at handling atrocities so that the wounds inflicted since 1963 are healed by justice delivered to the sufferers. consider the Nuremberg trials which established that all of humanity would be guarded by an international legal shield and that even a Head of State (PORK for us in Kenya) would be held criminally responsible and punished for aggression and Crimes Against Humanity. the right of humanitarian intervention to put a stop to Crimes Against Humanity – even by a sovereign against his own citizens – gradually emerged from the Nuremberg principles affirmed by the United Nations. so why are we toying with a viper instead of taking it to KWS who own snake parks? or if in our house and it endagers the family we kill it. www.roberthjackson.org/the-man/speeches-articles/speeches/speeches-related-to-robert-h-jackson/the-influence-of-the-nuremberg-trial-on-international-criminal-law/crimes Against Humanity as a new principle saw its birth after the Second World War, as a result of the atrocities committed by the Nazi forces before and during the armed conflict. as for Kenya we have not been able to deal with our demons decisively because as some of us are hopelessly lost in that Cinderella world of ‘they lived happily ever after’. ongoing violence and widespread civil unrest continue in numerous situations, like Tana Delta now a few years ago it was Mount Elgon, and those responsible for atrocities have rarely faced justice. so back to tjrc. studies done on the S. African tjrc gave results that I can summarize as ‘distress was significantly associated with specific demographic factors (female gender, less education), with having a TRC-related experience to share, and with negative perceptions of the TRC (a negative view of survivors' testimony). Anger had similar associations but was also predicted by lower age. Forgiveness was associated with age and education, with being Coloured, and with having a positive view of perpetrator's testimony, while it was inversely associated with having a TRC experience to share. Distress and anger correlated inversely with forgiveness. Perceptions of the TRC were moderately positive irrespective of many demographic variables (race, education, age).’ (read full publication titled The impact of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on psychological distress and forgiveness in South Africa). yes I do agree with what you state but when we look at performance of our tjrc we may be playing Cinderella to except the above results let us say one year later after the report is out! And if the report is waiting for the next elections to be over it may be a total waste of tax payers funds as past commissioned reports have borne fruit except maybe krieglers and pev.
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Post by podp on Sept 12, 2012 18:46:43 GMT 3
Kabogo proving all allegations against him are probably true...sick fellow... Considering this is a girl who wound up dead following such a brutal assault, the Director of Public Prosecution needs to act on this ASAP - bring charges against Kabogo. sirjonduke in reply to brendan gitau(Show the comment) how can this be the guy who is still running for yet another public office position. I mean whether there is more to be revealed (which i am sure there is) the events described here speak volumes on the character of mr kabogo and his associates. I think in any other country, if a politician or a public figure was intermingled in such activities, they would promptly lose their positions and/or be prosecuted
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Post by podp on Sept 12, 2012 18:28:51 GMT 3
PodpAt what point then should you cease negotiating or pleading with a gang of murderers? Remember it is reported that in yesterday's attack, the attackers engaged the police in a fire fight which means these guys have little regard for the law......so why should not the scorched earth policy be brought to bear on these attackers as I see little room for human rights here. You rightly say that human rights are here to stay...and I wish exactly that. However you also need to know that these are the same things that are hampering a proper dealing with the violence in Tana where the police cannot fire a shot at an attacker and then be blamed for violation of the attacker's rights. One only has to look at places like Mexico to realize that a scorched earth policy does not work: 60.000 violent deaths in six years. As a stand-alone measure violence will simply beget more violence. If violence is to be used at all it can only be effective as part of a comprehensive strategy that includes addressing failing law enforcement, security sector reform, addressing the well known underlying causes, respect for human rights, a reformed criminal justice system and lots of continuous dialogue. That is why the terrible events in Tana River are such a shocker: they point to a complete system failure. It should be a wake-up call for Kenyans to be wary of voting the present political class back into office in 2013. 1st red highlight if what kamalet says I have no words for that. the best response to fire is more fire. although an eye for an eye makes the world go blind if what you say is true let them have a taste of their own medicine. mkuki mtamu kwa nguruwe kwa binadamu... but let it not end when the guns fall silent as its always nice to do a post moterm and see where the rain started beating us. that LAPPSET project should start pronto and a highway passed between the Ormas and the Pokomos to ease future logistics the way the colonialists did with the Kisumu Busia road. you never now hear of the waNyore fighting with the Luos of Siaya over Maseno (we now have a university college and many other Government started projects). you never hear the Marachi fighting the Luos (of Ugenya) between Sidindi and Bumala. and of course at Luanda Dudi you never hear Kisas fighting the Luos of Yala (Gem). So after burning down as many Ormas and Pokomos do have LAPPSET off the ground and all will be well 50 years from today as along Kisumu Busia road all has been well so far. 2nd red highlight let me borrow from Jakaswanga style and start in South America. to the capitalists in Brazil, the one-day, bloodless Revolution of 1964 was popular and a great relief. the communists, and other leftists were exiled and binded their time. for the next fifteen years, the military guided Brazilian economic progress, installed a two party system, and maintained a democratic structure for state, municipal, and legislative elections, while naming a different general as President for each five-year term. none of the generals became rich. human rights abuses never approached levels of Argentina or Chile. www.capital-flow-analysis.com/investment-tutorial/case_1c.htmlin the late 1970s, with 'Jimmy' Carter as President, the United States turned against its military allies in Brazil, demanding the immediate return of civilian rule. by March 1979, with the end of the term of President Ernesto Geisel (1977-1996), the period of economic discipline and civil peace came to an end. by December 1979, Leonel Brizola was back in the country, taking a whole floor in the Everest Hotel in Ipanema, doling out campaign funds to politicians and left-wing ideologues, eager for power and a chance to exploit the masses. by the end of the 1980s, Brazil was bankrupt and in the hands of the IMF.that sounds almost where Kenya was in 2002 with the Nyayo rule. just as Kenyans were optimistic people in 2003, Brazil also produced the most popular politician on earth. for nearly seven years (2002-09), he'do done a spectacular job as Brazil's president. but did Lula resist the temptation to throw it away? well unlike our village thief Lula did hand over to a lady President who is continuing where he left while us we descended to despair of 2008 and now we are seeing some fore play. something interesting is happening now in Brazil concerning Lula’s supporters. www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-19091137Brazil's Supreme Court has opened the trial of 38 people in a corruption case that rocked the government of then-President Lula, in 2005. the defendants are accused of involvement in a scheme that used public funds to pay coalition partners to support the government's agenda. among those accused are former leading members of Lula's Workers' Party (PT). All reject the charges. at the time, Lula denied knowledge of the scheme and said he felt betrayed. we know what happened to General Pinochet of Chile. then there are the Argentines rulers behind bars courtesy of many among them Moreno Ocampo, the living nightmare of the 4 Hague bound Kenyans let no one in the current Government imagine that our courts will only deal up to Permanent Secretary level as we have witnessed this month. and that is an excellent pointer of what is in store for merchants of impunity if we stay the course. we need to go higher to the PORKs present and past so that the future ones never repeat the usual ‘mistakes’. so we have a scotched earth policy know the chickens will come home to roost in our era. intelligence (both local and from without) if backed with a legal Inspector General of Police and those relics of Provincial Administration will have to explain who was sleeping on the job or who they covered. otherwise for me send the Human Rights, (are they not on Government payroll) and keep the Media present and the violence will die out if supported by local and state leaders. encourage the presidential contenders to go seek votes there too to show us if they are ‘true’ leaders. and let us see LAPSSET rolling as Thika superhighway did. my pinks do give a caution for us all who vote in Kenya to be wary of 'reformers' as when one looks at the life styles of the RAO and sorroundings (prof, ex-student leader now lands minister) compare that to the PNU wing and like in animal farm the pigs and human look alike at the end.
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Post by podp on Sept 11, 2012 20:33:58 GMT 3
September 5th 2012 ruling...Nairobi Chief Magistrate Lucy Nyambura found the former PS guilty of charges arising from a contract of supply of equipment for making new passports. Mwaliko was facing abuse of office charges in connection with the tender that was awarded to Anglo-Leasing and Finance Limited. Mwaliko was put on defence in June by the magistrate who ruled that the prosecution had proved being the person in-charge of vice-president’s office and Ministry of Home Affairs, he facilitated the award of the contract to Anglo-Leasing arbitrarily without the knowledge of the Department of Immigration. The former PS, she further ruled, failed to comply with procurement procedures and guidelines. She said as the person in charge, he should have verified the status of Anglo-Leasing Limited before agreeing to enter into any contract with the company. Ms Nyambura ruled that despite not having the direct approval of the vice-president, Mwaliko disregarded the guidelines provided in the exchequer and audit regulations in awarding the tender. Nairobi Chief Magistrate Ms Nyambura is a Joke.. ati fining PS Mwaliko KES 3000,000 or time in Jail? what nonsense.. the guy will use the money he got in the corrupt Anglo leasing deal to pay the KES 3 Million and walk free..How about the Kenya tax payers who are left holding the debt ? why shouldn't this thieves made to return the stolen Loot $$$$$$ there something smelly with this ruling? how come the government is not up in arms protesting to this rubbish ruling by Magistrate Nyambura? Anglo leasing and Goldenberg scandals including other such government looting machines will never be resolved while the current government is in place.. Bure Kabisa.. www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000065489&story_title=Former-PS-jailed-for-3-years-over-Anglo-leasing-scam last red highlight Point 1. "Good governance is epitomized by predictable, open and enlightened policy-making, a bureaucracy imbued with professional ethos acting in furtherance of the public good, the rule of law, transparent processes, and a strong civil society participating in public affairs. Poor governance (on the other hand) is characterized by arbitrary policy making, unaccountable bureaucracies, un enforced or unjust legal systems, the abuse of executive power, a civil society unengaged in public life, and widespread corruption." The World Bank Point 2. In the tourism case 'ý'No documents are there to show the other payments even after one stakeholder paid Sh500,000 for the trip. In fact, the other accused (Duncan Muriuki) opened a fixed deposit account for the money and withdrew it soon after the trip was over,”----Nyambura. So there were two ways out after admitting that: This was a typical fraudulent disbursement scheme. It is the easiest fraud to detect. All the investigator needs to determine is whether all disbursements are: 1. Supported with any documentation 2. Supported with adequate third party documentation 3. Supported with genuine documentation These 3 people are "disappointing in the lack of criminal cunning and foresight". they could have thought of negotiating out of court and return the money plus interest yet the law was amended to allow such arrangement. Point 3. I support you by pointing out that the DPP should dare prosecute the top corruption suspects; the ones driving around in flashy cars, building shopping malls here and there. If he has the guts let him get the corrupt Ministers and Members of Parliament, the drug lords and other lords of impunity. the Courts have shown that they can deliver.
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Post by podp on Sept 11, 2012 17:54:33 GMT 3
The setting up of TRJC was excellent opportunity to address the culture of impunity; unfortunately it is now very clear its work is destined for the dustbin more or less the same way akiwumi, goldenberg, arturs, e.t.c reports were trashed. I expected an effective commission to demand that people (especially politicians) account for their past actions and afterward make effort to uphold justice for all- without favoring the so called untouchables. in theory or dreasms maybe but in reality our trjc has been below par. The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was set up by the Government of National Unity to help deal with what happened under apartheid. The conflict during this period resulted in violence and human rights abuses from all sides. No section of society escaped these abuses. The TRC was based on the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act, No 34 of 1995 www.justice.gov.za/trc/The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development invites individuals, who were declared eligible for reparation during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission(TRC), to claim their once-off payment of R30 000. www.justice.gov.za/trc/reparations/index.htmlet us now focus on our which has no clearly explained policy for reparations and we have not had the molesters seek forgiveness, reconciliation or punishments for their misdeeds led by no other than the chairman of tjrc. The Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) is established by an Act of Parliament (Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission Act no. 6 of 2008) to investigate the gross human rights violations and other historical injustices in Kenya between 12 December 1963 and 28 February 2008. www.tjrckenya.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93&Itemid=118the reason it was set up ‘The TJRC is part of the accountability component of Agenda Four (4) of the National Accord signed in 2008. By addressing the cause and effects of historical injustices and gross violations of human rights the TJRC will contribute towards national unity, reconciliation, and healing.’ now if you want to contribute, a weak word as in donate, you can count on the number of willing givers. It will always be the downtrodden not those whose boots were smashing the torture chambers victims! So we are talking of making a contribution towards national unity, cease fire and curing the ills that besets us in a voluntary basis. we never aimed at explaining to ourselves and people the differences in the approach to justice between Retributive Justice and Restorative Justice. Restorative Justice is much more community centric and focuses on making the victim whole. But how can that happen if only the victim testifies while the torturer remains scot free to choose if s/he will testify or not? we all know crime wounds while justice heals but we do not hear much truth when one party (torturer) chooses not to confess (or explain his story). on a thorny issue like land as an example how come the estate of first PORK kenyatta, the follower PORK mo1 and the current PORK have never explained how they acquired the pieces of land they have now. how will restoration of justice occur when all those regimes went ahead and allocated cronies large chunks of land and are now busy inviting 'foreigners' for example Chinese who cannot own land in their countries of origin because of state laws there; ditto Qataris; ditto Italians; ditto Germans etc. and with elections in 6 months time many torturers are offering to ‘represent’ the victims against 'injustice' and you expect tjrc to deliver?
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Post by podp on Sept 11, 2012 17:30:09 GMT 3
The setting up of TRJC was excellent opportunity to address the culture of impunity; unfortunately it is now very clear its work is destined for the dustbin more or less the same way akiwumi, goldenberg, arturs, e.t.c reports were trashed. I expected an effective commission to demand that people (especially politicians) account for their past actions and afterward make effort to uphold justice for all- without favoring the so called untouchables. in theory or dreasms maybe but in reality our trjc has been below par. The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was set up by the Government of National Unity to help deal with what happened under apartheid. The conflict during this period resulted in violence and human rights abuses from all sides. No section of society escaped these abuses. The TRC was based on the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act, No 34 of 1995 www.justice.gov.za/trc/The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development invites individuals, who were declared eligible for reparation during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission(TRC), to claim their once-off payment of R30 000. www.justice.gov.za/trc/reparations/index.htmlet us now focus on our which has no clearly explained policy for reparations and we have not had the molesters seek forgiveness, reconciliation or punishments for their misdeeds led by no other than the chairman of tjrc. The Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) is established by an Act of Parliament (Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission Act no. 6 of 2008) to investigate the gross human rights violations and other historical injustices in Kenya between 12 December 1963 and 28 February 2008. www.tjrckenya.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93&Itemid=118the reason it was set up ‘The TJRC is part of the accountability component of Agenda Four (4) of the National Accord signed in 2008. By addressing the cause and effects of historical injustices and gross violations of human rights the TJRC will contribute towards national unity, reconciliation, and healing.’ now if you want to contribute, a weak word as in donate, you can count on the number of willing givers. It will always be the downtrodden not those whose boots were smashing the torture chambers victims! So we are talking of making a contribution towards national unity, cease fire and curing the ills that besets us in a voluntary basis. we never aimed at explaining to ourselves and people the differences in the approach to justice between Retributive Justice and Restorative Justice. Restorative Justice is much more community centric and focuses on making the victim whole. But how can that happen if only the victim testifies while the torturer remains scot free to choose if s/he will testify or not? we all know crime wounds while justice heals but we do not hear much truth when one party (torturer) chooses not to confess (or explain his story). on a thorny issue like land as an example how come the estate of first PORK kenyatta, the follower PORK mo1 and the current PORK have never explained how they acquired the pieces of land they have now. how will restoration of justice occur when all those regimes went ahead and allocated cronies large chunks of land and are now busy inviting 'foreigners' for example Chinese who cannot own land in their countries of origin because of state laws there; ditto Qataris; ditto Italians; ditto Germans etc. and with elections in 6 months time many torturers are offering to ‘represent’ the victims against 'injustice' and you expect tjrc to deliver?
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Post by podp on Sept 11, 2012 16:22:05 GMT 3
I am not sure why the pokomos and the ormas are fighting but it is certainly not over grazing rights as claimed earlier. I do not believe that however primitive one is, grass is something to kill over! Having said this it is regrettable that the killing and retaliation has persisted and has been extended to the security forces being killed. Now when it gets to this, one thing would be very clear in my mind. The killers are operating under a command or instruction as it is highly unlikely that a group of 300 can be that organised in a spontaneous attack (for lack of a better word). The security forces/intelligence need to tell us who this war lord is and have him arrested and jailed for murder. But we cannot let off the 300 killers off. As they are ready to shoot and kill policemen, would a fire fight that would surely finish them off be deemed excessive force and draw the attention of the human rights activists or do we just arrest a whole village and charge them with murder hoping we can get a conviction and still risk the same condemnation of the rights activists? you are not advocating scorched earth policy ? that is a military strategy or operational method which involves destroying anything that might be useful to the enemy while advancing through or withdrawing from an area. It is a military strategy where all of the assets that are used or can be used by the enemy are targeted, such as food sources, transportation, communications, industrial resources, and even the people in the area. The practice is carried out by an army in enemy territory, or its own home territory. It may overlap with, but is not the same as, punitive destruction of an enemy's resources, which is done for purely strategic/political reasons rather than strategic/operational reasons. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scorched_earthhuman rights are hear with us to stay as per our Constitution. let us blame someone else and just as a suggestion what would you say to the opinion that it is high time heads rolled starting with PORK?
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Post by podp on Sept 11, 2012 16:12:00 GMT 3
so you give me an answer to your questions Prof. Podp,Don't be a cheeky prof. In your travels around Africa you definitely must have made the acquaintance of many Otieno Kajwang's running around like headless kitchens in their departments wondering what hit them. In Ghana you must have noted that, during the liberalisation frenzy of Kuffuor, the local poultry industry collapsed, because it could not compete the cheap frozen imports from the EU, the EU where chicken is reared in Mega stalls, some of them as big as Nyayo stadium and 10-storeys high! This is large-scale super-intensive capitalist industrial poultry production. Such a plant, or stall, could harvest 1 million birds per day. That is more than Kisumu and Mombasa can jointly consume in the same period! ;D Enter the Chinese in the Ghanian market: They have manage to economically make the local poultry industry in Ghana profitable! Producing birds at a cheaper bargain than the EU frozen imports!How did they do it? [may be I was part of the team sent by the EU to Ghana to find out how these yellow devils had ran us out of our market! but that aside]. What I will report to Jukwaa, is that Ghana discovered oil. And oil people do not do the world's dirtiest jobs. Cleaning without any protective gear, the daily-shit-load of 1000 birds in a simple yard, with the stupid birds quacking and shitting more on your head, is not something African men worth their pride will do for 'living in and feed costs'! --That is no wages, but eating chicken every day! Prof. Podp, some looked at the Chinese manufacturing chicken in Africa, and reported to the EU that they should get out of the chicken market quick! Or buy land in somewhere in that continent and import the cheap Chinese as slave-labour. Because of historical reasons, it is impossible to ask Europeans to use Africans as slave labour! So, prof, back to you and Mukhisa Khituyi, what do you propose? 1st red highlight If you watched ‘The Chinese Are Coming’ While many in the West view Africa as a land of poverty, to the Chinese it is seen as an almost limitless business opportunity. From Angola to Tanzania, Justin meets the fearless Chinese entrepreneurs who have travelled thousands of miles to set up businesses. topdocumentaryfilms.com/chinese-are-coming/There are two comments one by an African and the second by a Chinese that made interesting reads, shown below. • This comment is pre-watching the documentary, and I will post another post-doc..(by an African from the Diaspora) As an African, I can safely say that we are very much aware that we are being exploited. However, we have very few options, those companies and charities that emphasise fair trade rarely actually trade fairly, and charities and aid work have been working in this continent for centuries now - to no avail.. (people don't need food and handouts, they need AFRICAN education that will teach them how to succeed with the environment but most of all they need good governance). For many African countries we CAN do it all by ourselves, that is the physical stuff, we have the resources, and man power we can build our own roads, schools, hospitals, and we do build the majority of them ourselves - BUT we don't have good governance!! You might think that colonialism is the big excuse, but it is no less than the truth. The way Africans govern typically is a tribal matter, our land was divided and different tribes with different outlooks on life were put together, we are very spirtual people and our beliefs do matter to us. All of these traditions that our ancestors held were discouraged, unrewarded and almost abolished after colonialism, so we were forced to adopt a false 'democracy' or government, and the 'colonials' took all of this with them after decades of reigning our countries. My point is: (sorry to have rambled) : The Chinese are not in any way contributing to the governance of our countries, and so they are not improving our situation. They are merely tapping resources back to their homeland. It may seem selfish to bite the hand that feeds you, but this is the truth, we did it once before, we celebrated in an quick union with the British Empire and when they left, which the Chinese will also ultimately end up doing (as I doubt that they will ever see themselves as Africans), they took it all with them. Visiting my home country in Africa, I see all of these cheap Chinese products, cheap scratchy plastic bowls, weaning out our bamboo or calabash wooden bowls? We are now in the age of sustainability and renewable resources, these plastic bowls do nothing but litter our land.. It's really sad that my nation is looking for quick fixes. Also, the Chinese immigrants and companies often offer labour at ridiculously competitive prices, and out compete local trade, which can't afford to compromise on costs, many have gone out of business, this is definitely not sustainable - like I mentioned, what will happen when the Chinese leave?? Where will our own tradesmen and women go? Another point is that the Chinese respect their culture, but to the extreme that they rarely integrate into other cultures or partake. There will be Chinatowns within these African countries, and they will live segragated from the citizens. I have read reports that some of these Chinese businessmen and women only buy from Chinese stores, and only eat Chinese food etc.. talk about integrating. Also one more point is that many smart Chinese entrepreneurs have purchased land in the African countries, so that they can inherit when they self brought-on boost occurs in the cost of land. As an African, it's very uncomforting to know that the land your ancestors were buried on may be owned by a person who is not willing to engage with your culture, who might build a skyscraper, or some strip joint (exaggeration), but may not respect the site, or might be only interested in selling it back to you for as high a price as possible. These are all my fears for my nation. I do see one major positive with the Chinese though; they have increased the interest in the endless possibilities available in African countries - Yes India and China are booming, but along with Mumbai, Mexico City, Lagos in Nigeria, West Africa is also one of the world's MEGACITIES, the Chinese are VERY VERY smart, they will increase competition for Westerners who have been ever to comfortable with trading with Africans. topdocumentaryfilms.com/chinese-are-coming/(comment by a Chinese) As a chinese, i think i can relate to parts of what you have said. The chinese kinda like to keep to themselves. I guess they enjoy being in their own comfort zone and see no reason of getting out of it. Regarding chinese buying up land elsewhere, thats because you are not allowed to own land in china (at least not in the urban areas, not sure bout rural areas). Thats why you can see esp in Canada, Australia, america, south east asian countries, the chinese are coming in and buying up property, to the extent of raising the property prices in these places. The cheap labour.....outside competition have been flooding the chinese market since the reforms and even more so after china joined the WTO...so much so that it has saturated the market in china that small time businesses have no choice of competing with the international MNCs that they begin to look for opportunities elsewhere, ie africa or other SEA nations. 2nd red highlight let me mull over that as I found out our good Prof incharge of the Medical Ministry was a lecture hall revolutionary who never practiced what he preached and with the NHIF saga and now the registrars plus maybe soon doctors strike topping up what MM wrote that he addresses PM as His Excellency one has to take your questions carefully and not chance a response that may turn to haunt like a piece of advice one never forgot. “You must never write history,” teacher said, “until you can hear the people speak.” one thought about that for years, and it came to feel like a valuable guiding principle for fiction as well. If you didn’t have a sense of how people spoke, you didn’t know them well enough, and so you couldn’t—you shouldn’t—tell their story. The way people spoke, in short, clipped phrases or long, flowing rambles, revealed so much about them: their place of origin, their social class, their temperament, whether calm or angry, warmhearted or cold-blooded, foulmouthed or polite; and, beneath their temperament, their true nature, intellectual or earthy, plainspoken or devious, and, yes, good or bad let us help one another phrase an acceptable answer to your pregnant question
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Post by podp on Sept 10, 2012 14:36:38 GMT 3
[Kenya is a labour surplus economy whose national interest must be defined as keeping a lid on any unnecessary immigration that will further depress the labour market.http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/Government+must+act+on+influx+of+unskilled+labour+from+Asia+/-/440808/1500474/-/100n7nkz/-/index.html Prof. Podp. Watu wa mkono, unskilled in construction, are paid 350-500 ksh/day, and this 'day' is very thinly defined. If a construction company from China tells you they can find watu wa mkono for 150 ksh/day, and the day is 14hrs. What say you? 1. Go away you slave-driver? 2. I don't believe you! come again! 3. Find money in your budget to top up the deficit for watu wa mkono[Chinese pay their 100ksh/14hrs, you top up the remaining 250-400 ksh.] 4. You look for another contractor to pay your watu-wa-mkono the rates you want at the tender price lower than the Chinese offer, or equal to it. 5. Force your watu wa mkono to take it or leave it. 6. Recognize you have been cornered, YOU ARE UNCOMPETITIVE, come up with a new GENERAL AND SUSTAINABLE remunerations policy -- that is a theory of pricing labour. ---Nobody, even an MP, in your country, can earn half a million ksh: Salary cap, both for private and public sector. otherwise how will you soak your excess and abundant young labour, pay them enough to subsist? With some sectors demanding 300% salary hikes I think otishotish and abdulmote with their premonitions of meltdown is prophetic. There are 200 million surplus Chinese, and their government is looking to export them. They will push wheelbarrows at ksh. 50 per day for 8 hrs. That level of desperacy is a force Africans are going to feel right in their pores. --The cheapest prostitute in your street will be a chink. And lots of Africans will be taking the going rate. Economics it is called. Free market or not. Professor, are you listening? what you say requires a gentle decision between culture of poverty and poverty of culture. once while in Kaunda's country, the president who carried a white handkerchief and teers would come from his eyes as he addressed the nation I stayed with folks in the mining belt of Zambia. they told me first the Chinese brought machinery and engineers to help them mine more cheaply than the western machines and engineers did. then they brought more complicated machines with drivers at no cost to the Zambian state as they were serving prisoners. before long they brought guys who were also Chinese to cook for the folks from China. not long afterwards they brought farmers to grow vegetables and keep poultry, pigs etc that the Chinese folks eat. logistics (trailers, pickups etc with drivers) followed. fumba macho ufungue macho the Zambians found that the Chinese had diversified and were now rearing poultry, had opened kiosks and eating joints serving cheaper githeri and assorted foodstuffs to those miners working at the lowest level to the General Manager level. and then the resentment set in! last time I was in Ghana my host told me a similar story had reached the level of logistics. he took me to his leased farm some 40 km out of Tema. his neighbor also leasing 20 or so hectares was a Chinese. he had got a local lady who was cohabiting with him under the rules similar as those in the centre spread of todays' Standard (stay in collection who cooks, cleans and does those services reserved for a wife but leaving under Chinese rules of no children for a couple that already has a child). a visit to Chine yielded the time taken to build a 80,000 capacity stadium was 5 months less in China than anywhere else on earth. when I asked how they did it the simple answer was 'we work 25 hours a day". so while labor laws allow us to strike in China you can get a death sentence for absconding work! i fully agree if mtu wa mkono here in Kenya is say 200 kshs per day you can get a Chinese for a quarter or less. so you give me an answer to your questions
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Post by podp on Sept 9, 2012 17:47:10 GMT 3
How land grabs in Africa could herald a new dystopian age of hunger.www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/jan/28/africa-land-grabs-food-securityHow African governments allow farmers to be pushed off their landwww.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2012/mar/02/african-governments-land-dealsForeign Investments in Agriculture - “Land Grabbing”www.entwicklungshilfe3.de/fileadmin/entwicklungshilfe/img/Land_grab_article.pdfIt even mentions our great country. Note the location of these land deals. Kenya has been plagued by droughts in recent years with devastating effects on its agriculture sector. Sadly instead of addressing this issue, Kenya has opted to give up its farmland to foreign investors planning to grow plants (for export) that are used to produce bio-fuel; plants such as sugar cane and jatropha, which require a lot of water to grow. In order to satisfy the watering needs of these plants, Kenya allegedly made available 10,000 hectares to the Canadian company Bedford Bio fuels, for a pilot project to grow Jatropha and 28,000 hectares to G4 Industries Ltd. from the UK. The land provided to both companies is adjacent to the Tana River and situated in the Tana Delta which is considered as an important habitat for birds in Africa. As a Consequence of these land concessions the environment of the delta has been damaged. Less and less animals are being seen, which once densely populated that habitat. Furthermore, the local population has been displaced and entire communities have been dismantled. It has also been reported that Kenya concluded an agreement with Qatar to exploit 40,000 hectares [also in the Tana River Delta].This short report on Kenya is also interesting: Land Grab in Kenya: Implications for Small By Pauline Makutsa Eastern Africa Farmers Federation, Small-holder Farmerswww.sfoap.net/fileadmin/user_upload/sfoap/KB/docs/Report%20of%20Land%20Grab%20in%20Kenya.pdf [/b][/i] [/quote]
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Post by podp on Sept 9, 2012 17:42:16 GMT 3
The most recent UNDP Human Development Report---I posted a link on another thread---highlights the effects of land-grabbing in developing countrries by rich countries. We should keep this in mind while we drive along those super-highways and cheer in those spanking new stadiums: Africa for Sale: The Land Grab Landmine.www.monitor.upeace.org/innerpg.cfm?id_article=877How land grabs in Africa could herald a new dystopian age of hunger.www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/jan/28/africa-land-grabs-food-securityThe food rush: Rising demand in China and west sparks African land grab.www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/03/africa-land-grabAnalysis: Land grab or development opportunity?www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17099348Sierra Leone just leased half mil Hectare of Land to China for 50 years.Land grab in Africa, brought to you by India.www.goimonitor.com/story/land-grab-africa-brought-you-indiaHow African governments allow farmers to be pushed off their landwww.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2012/mar/02/african-governments-land-dealsEthiopia: Thousands driven out in land grab.www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2012/01/18/Ethiopia-Thousands-driven-out-in-land-grab/UPI-60071326912191/African land grab could lead to future water conflicts. www.newscientist.com/article/mg21028144.100-african-land-grab-could-lead-to-future-water-conflicts.htmlAre foreign investors colonising Africa?stream.aljazeera.com/story/are-foreign-investors-colonising-africa-0021551Africa: Growing Africa's Land.allafrica.com/stories/201207030260.htmlWhat about our great country? Here are a couple of examples: Biofuels land grab in Kenya's Tana Delta fuels talk of warwww.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/02/biofuels-land-grab-kenya-deltaFor the person who has the time, there is a lengthy report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations that attempts to carefully look at the pros and cons. Land grab or development opportunity? ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/ak241e/ak241e.pdf But please note that this report was issued in 2009, and land-grabbing has rapidly accelerated since then. If you don't have the time, then here's a short, recent article that quickly hits some of the main points: Foreign Investments in Agriculture - “Land Grabbing”www.entwicklungshilfe3.de/fileadmin/entwicklungshilfe/img/Land_grab_article.pdfIt even mentions our great country. Note the location of these land deals. Kenya has been plagued by droughts in recent years with devastating effects on its agriculture sector. Sadly instead of addressing this issue, Kenya has opted to give up its farmland to foreign investors planning to grow plants (for export) that are used to produce bio-fuel; plants such as sugar cane and jatropha, which require a lot of water to grow. In order to satisfy the watering needs of these plants, Kenya allegedly made available 10,000 hectares to the Canadian company Bedford Bio fuels, for a pilot project to grow Jatropha and 28,000 hectares to G4 Industries Ltd. from the UK. The land provided to both companies is adjacent to the Tana River and situated in the Tana Delta which is considered as an important habitat for birds in Africa. As a Consequence of these land concessions the environment of the delta has been damaged. Less and less animals are being seen, which once densely populated that habitat. Furthermore, the local population has been displaced and entire communities have been dismantled. It has also been reported that Kenya concluded an agreement with Qatar to exploit 40,000 hectares [also in the Tana River Delta].This short report on Kenya is also interesting: Land Grab in Kenya: Implications for Small By Pauline Makutsa Eastern Africa Farmers Federation, Small-holder Farmerswww.sfoap.net/fileadmin/user_upload/sfoap/KB/docs/Report%20of%20Land%20Grab%20in%20Kenya.pdfQuote: In 2003, Dominion Group of companies of Oklahoma USA leased 2,300 ha of land for 25 years71 in the Yala Swamp ... A number of families have been evicted from the additional area of farmland claimed by Dominion even though these families have been living on that land for generations. Some farmers even possess registration documents claiming ownership of the land. Dominion offered to compensate these farmers with as little as KES 45,000 per ha which some of the farmers declined. To deal with these stubborn farmers Dominion flooded their farms, by opening the sluices of the weir that they had constructed with the aim of directing the flow of the tributary that feeds the swamp, and destroying their crops. now we can start to appreciate the problem in Tana delta is beyond the Ormas and Pokomos doings. squeezed into a smaller and ever diminishing area their traditions of yonder whereby grazing fields were used in certain seasons no longer hold. add the population growth and a powder keg exists. what of politicians who cannot see tomorrow such that you hear a full minister squealing in parliament how an assistant minister is responsible for the mayhem! yet the minister is responsible for internal security and defense dockets which are both in the office of the president
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Post by podp on Sept 9, 2012 17:23:56 GMT 3
Several African countries, are re-defining their immigration and labour laws, in the face of what we really now must, adopting the xenophobic lingo of our former colonial masters, colloquially call the yellow peril. Kajwang' may soon have to quit his deafness occasioned by eating, and make a decision.Here is from other countries: 1. --- MALAWI www.newsdzezimbabwe.co.uk/2012/07/Chinese-traders-booted-out-of-malawis.html -chinese booted out Malawi interior. CHINESE TRADERS BOOTED OUT OF MALAWI'S RURAL AREAS Thursday, July 05, 2012 NewsdzeZimbabwe 3Chinese traders owning retail shops in rural areas have been ordered out by the Malawi government. They have to move to towns and cities by the end of July, according to a directive by Ministry of Industry and Trade. Karonga District Commissioner Emmanuel Bambe on Wednesday disclosed that district councils have since been advised to stop issuing licenses to Chinese traders as that will now be the sole responsibility of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. He said this was in line with an agreement signed between Malawi and Chinese governments. “Business people of Chinese origin are supposed to do their businesses in towns and cities and not in districts hence the decision to move them out,” he said. Malawian traders, he said, can’t fairly compete against Chinese retail traders whose goods are relatively cheap. [READ MORE] ----------------------------------------------------------- 2. -----SENEGAL: www.themeshreport.com/2012/08/in-senegalese-shoe-capital-chinese-not-welcome/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+The-Mesh-Report+%28The+Mesh+Report%29 In Senegalese shoe capital, Chinese not welcomeTHE MESH REPORT STAFF AUGUST 2, 2012 COMMENTS (63) By RUKMINI CALLIMACHI NGAYE MEKHE, Senegal – It has taken generations for cobblers in this village to perfect the pointy-toed slippers once favored by local kings, and now considered an indispensable fashion accessory of well-dressed Senegalese men. It only took months for the Chinese to copy and mass produce the local design, making them out of plastic instead of leather and selling them for a quarter of the price. The Senegalese government has so far not regulated the import of Chinese-made replicas of local crafts, so the most prominent shoemakers of Ngaye Mekhe have come up with their own retaliation: They are refusing to sell their slippers to Chinese visitors. ========================================= NIGERIA: First chinese bodabodas reported in Lagos. The motorbike taxis, what we call apiko in Nyanza are known as okada in Nigeria. First folks laughed, then realised this was not a joking people. So they killed a few to stop the peril I think. NAMIBIA: Chinese in markets in the interior selling everything from second hand clothes to jembes and traditional herbs to increase potency! --Riots! DRC, ANGOLA, NIGER, the story is the same. Now I am informed they have entered fishing from a beach-head in Nyakach in Nyanza. [The Luos do not fish much because of the hyacinth! but there are enough snakes, a delicacy to some, under that weed to feed the growing Chinese restaurants in East and Central Afika! The lake as a snake-pond, and if Luos insist on the old trade fisherman instead of snake-catcher, well, lets say the times left us behind! --- ENTER THE DRAGON!! Yes, otishotish, my new friends are everywhere, and scaring the living devils out of everyone. They are the death-knells on a certain world as we have known it. thus the ubiquitous fear. Kenya is a labour surplus economy whose national interest must be defined as keeping a lid on any unnecessary immigration that will further depress the labour market. Our opening of the market to other members of the East African Common market is founded on the understanding that we have a competitive labour product which will secure a livelihood in the neighbouring countries more than their product in our market.Thus we project net market gains for Kenyans. China has never negotiated any agreement on trade in services with Kenya. This means it is virtually impossible for Kenyans with modest skills to penetrate the Chinese labour market. www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/Government+must+act+on+influx+of+unskilled+labour+from+Asia+/-/440808/1500474/-/100n7nkz/-/index.html
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Post by podp on Sept 9, 2012 17:21:25 GMT 3
Here, leaders can trample all over you and you won’t be able to do a thing about it. Far from standing on trains, our leaders move around in massive convoys, inconveniencing everyone else. We live, in short, in a society constructed for the benefit of leaders, not subjects. We will not move forward until we evolve past this mediaeval, feudal state. We must applaud societies that have outgrown personality cults. We must reject the outdated concept that leaders are the only grown-ups in the land, and everyone else is a helpless child. Maturity in society is about equivalence and parity of rights.We won’t really move forward until we can harness the energy, knowledge and productivity of every citizen. The idea of monarchs in palaces controlling the decisions as well as the riches of the land is an anachronism. www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/Leadership+cults+retard+national+development/-/440808/1500448/-/item/1/-/oephck/-/index.html
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Post by podp on Sept 9, 2012 17:18:20 GMT 3
Abdulmote, You have been a Jukwaaist since 2005. Is that right? I'm surprised therefore, that you NEVER read the thread about how the Qataris were supposed to lease huge chunks of land along Tana River under Kibaki for agricultural purposes for well over 100 years. Some of us, including myself, rejected this move outright and this is documented somewhere in the Jukwaa archives if you cared to do some research. For you to come here and start blaming the Omwengas and Mwalimus is just outright ignorance and lack of depth as pertains to Jukwaa topics!! Please take time and make the Jukwaa archives your best friend!! Believe you me, there are not many topics you can start discussing on Jukwaa that have never been visited! I wish I could fish out that relevant thread for you, but given that you are almost a founder member of this board I shall not do you that favour!! If you really love Jukwaa, then you must know Jukwaa. So very well put Einstein. Just the other day I almost asked Abdulmote what had actually hit him, but I decided to read and observe him a little longer. He sounds very different and looks at things very differently lately. It is a total rebirth I tell you. But we all learn in this process, don't we? another whispering campaign dwelling on the individuals and not the real issue the handle topic suggests
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Post by podp on Sept 9, 2012 17:09:18 GMT 3
Eisntein, It will do you good if step down from your horse! Accusing Oloo (lets leave Miguna out of this), without stating how came to that conclusion is certainly unacceptable and an attempt to mudsling one's standing in society. Slanderous! If you think you have reasons to make such conclusions, it does not mean that all others in here share the same. Some of us are not in the habit of filling in the blanks with some assumptions prompted by the all knowing einstein. Such is unethical behaviour the likes of you prefer to take others down with and you will be sniffed out! And before you start getting hot under the collar, take a deep breath and thin hard, lest your response comes back to haunt you. both 1st and 2nd red highlight me thinks einstein is on a whispering campaign. he is trying very hard to reduce the threads into personalal discussions as opposed to issues. if he is in Kenya it jells well with the fixiation on individuals and not parties. today one YK92 starter launched his presidential campaign. let me give reasons for thinking einstein has a desire to reduce Jukwaa to discussing personalities. Teacher taught ‘it is important to come to know through dialogue with all protagonists both their objective situation and their awareness of that situation — the various levels of perception of themselves and of the world in which and with which they exist.’ if one wants to reduce the thread started by ksk to who is who one will need to get OO reveal who is using a real name and a handle. that would not serve the interests of the characters however continuing the issues raised would be more interesting with new heroes if need be as it appears ksk has bolted. but einsten wants us to dwell on individuals. will we humor him? Einstein I am a little late in the game so bear with me as I try to peace the puzzle of KSK 's premature demise from the forum. 1. KSK has been trying to make her case against nuclear energy in her long winded 15 page thread. 2. PODP has been trying to make his case against her, in support of David Otuomo (world known nuclear scientist) sometimes pasting irrelevant articles, one of them quoting from "peeling back the mask" 3. David Otuomo was bannished from the team by non other than George Ochillo Ayacko, Excecutive chairman of the nuclear plant, who is non other than a cousin of Raila (or so 'whistle blower' MM would want us to believe) as well as the toboa ukweli team 4. David Otuomo is a personal friend of Admin OO as per those personal e-mails you posted. So there is a conflict of interest in trying to make the case for Otuomo according to exerpts below. "Our sources inform us that absence of Mr. Otwoma from the day to day running of the Nuclear Electricity Project seems to have had a negative financial and monetary impact on the activities of the project."5. KSK finds out she was being made a fool of the whole time and bolts. Question is, if KSK was so serious about this issue, why bolt now, with these new revelations. She could have simply countered PODP and ilks "its our turn to eat " attempts and continued with her call for other energy alternatives. Teacher encouraged us to reflect. the concept of a generative theme is neither an arbitrary invention nor a working hypothesis to be proved. energy as an enabler and electricity as better than wood fuel hence when concentrating on nuclear energy as one avenue of electricity generation we have a theme. if it were a hypothesis to be proved, the initial investigation would seek not to ascertain the nature of the theme (pro and against nuclear energy or the individuals behind the arguments), but rather the very existence or non-existence of themes (who are small to big minds in Jukwaa). in that event, before attempting to understand the theme in its richness, its significance, its plurality, its transformations, and its historical composition, we would first have to verify whether or not it is an objective fact; only then could we proceed to apprehend it. So rather than dwell on ksk and why she left which is more like market (bar) talk would it not be more useful for Jukwaa to continue with the issues at hand (suitability or non suitability of nuclear? in my view Einstein belongs more to the initiators of ‘whispers’ to demonize individuals whether real or abstract. that is why he can lament that OO and MM of today are not those he admired 5 years ago! Teacher cautioned against einsteins types whose action show they perceive ‘the real danger lies in the risk of shifting the focus of the investigation from the meaningful themes (nuclear energy) to the people themselves (ksk etc), thereby treating the people as objects of the investigation.’ now I understand his obsession that we discuss the individuals, known like OO, MM etc and unknown like ksk, einstein etc. some famous quote exists about mind that discuss people, events and/or generate ideas!if we dwelt with the issue of the thread Teacher said ‘Confronted by this “universe of themes” in dialectical contradiction, persons take equally contradictory positions: some work to maintain the structures, others to change them.’ hence my view and that of ksk was different but that need not make any of us treat OO like a suitor in a monogamous arrangement such that when he appears to tilt to one side or if OO is to be believed he is neutral one bolts! ‘I cannot think for others or without others, nor can others think for me’ was what Teacher said. we need ksk or like minded ones back discussing issues just as we need those opposed to her views and possibly together we may come to a synthesis on place of nuclear energy in Kenya.
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Post by podp on Sept 7, 2012 14:03:45 GMT 3
seconded so as to preserve this thread for idiot Nope, I think all discussions about nuclear energy should be posted on the thread below since that is where it all started! jukwaa.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=2668But I understand, everyone wants discussions to take place ONLY on threads generated by oneself even if that amounts to multiplicity of threads on the same subject!How shallow!! how is the whispering campaign progressing? who is after who? explain in simple words instead of telling me to read tea leaves i.e. join the dots when I am blind and need a good guide like you at whispering directions
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Post by podp on Sept 7, 2012 13:42:42 GMT 3
looks like the Ormas are now killing the Pokomos and we are busy on reform and non reformists! Some priority
Citizen TV News @citizentvnews
Death toll in Tana River retaliatory attacks hits 12.
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Post by podp on Sept 4, 2012 22:56:55 GMT 3
it is only that I was rather surprised by the reasoning of Ksk, following what she saw as an eye-opener by Eichner . I had been of the opinion KSk was in Jukwaa to stay, so it had to be, given she is not into the Miguna business, a very other powerful reason to break her jukwaa resolve. And you were the mentioned party in the divorce proceedings!From there i sought clarification from you! My judgment is: the handle has to come up with a better reason to quit. Or just say she is moving on to other time expenditure more worthwhile! 1st red highlight actually ksk used to moderate me when she thought my postings were not relevant on that thread. what did come out strongly was her view and support for renewables and in my opinion she had a narrow definitions of renewables like the ecologists www.ecology.com/2011/09/06/fossil-fuels-vs-renewable-energy-resources/while for me nuclear especially fuel from the uranium, thorium for fission and fusion from lighter elements principally hydrogen qualify to add to renewables www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2012/07/the-future-of-nuclear-power-in-californiain my view to date countries like Germany which are already over developed can afford the luxury of shedding off some of their base load sources namely nuclear, coal and gas (generation of 120,000 MW against consumption of 80,000 MW). Kenya in contrast expects to realize Vision 2030 projects which alone will consume 42,000 MW if realized yet our current generation is less than 2,000 MW! and it was normal for her to post, what I considered romanticized solar sources and wind capability (all nice and cozy for interim consumers like household usage and water pumps for irrigation but not reliable for industrial use 24/7/365) 2nd red highlight I agree with you because it was not necessary she gets to my camp and nor was it necessary for me to join her. live and let live but respect each others opinion that is why again I would encourage her and like minded to avail those solar and wind mills to our disadvantaged and let us of base load avail nuclear, coal and gas fired power plants for uptake by industries. live and let live. not agreeing with the ridiculous request for sovereign guarantees for wind, solar and oil fired power plants and not even entertaining world bank and ifc funding for feasibility studies for nuclear. live and let live
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Post by podp on Sept 4, 2012 9:37:14 GMT 3
Eichner
Thanks so much for this. I did wonder very much why Podp was always posting straight away to cover up my arguments against the nuke-bomb energy plant in Kenya, sometimes with completely irrelevant articles.
And thanks to the administrator for taking parts by posting his "Whistleblower" stuff too in support for his "Comrade". Kumbe wananienjoy the all-time.
So now you can dump the thread full of your praise of the nuke-bomb and maybe it might help you get back to your thick paycheck which you know very well you will just be eating tax-payers money as long as you guys still pretend to be doing feasibility study.
Am very disappointed and end my part in this thread (and will terminate my membership too) in which i took so dear to me and have put a lot of time and work on it!
Jukwaa iko na wenyewewww.jukwaa.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=6228&page=15 Prof. Podp,From the above post, I deduce Ksk left, feeling you were 'playing games'. I had not noticed it. Now, do you feel inclined to shed any light, or are these accusations too preposterous! --about the thread being your baby for instance! .. 1st red highlight what game is there to play and if so what are its rules? 2nd red highlight you be the judge. otherwise let me borrow from the lady who started this thread by saying my stand is that i am firmly in jukwaa to stay and will not vacillate in my voluntary commitment to it. i believe i can change jukwaa with my participation rather than walking out;that there are more than a dozen strands and themes that i can indulge in here besides miguna miguna, some as old as 2005 but as relevant as today; that jukwaa is seductive and addictive; that jukwaa's beauty and notoriety is predicated in its diversity and riches of its often disparate chattering class; and that its naive,defeatist and at most ridiculous to insist on framing an agenda for jukwaa or attempt to rail road its thought process. Read more: jukwaa.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=7324&page=1#ixzz25ToeYuIjnow a question to you, if two or so years down the line it turns out I have made most posts on this thread will it qualify to say are these accusations too preposterous! --about the thread being your baby for instance? let us be fake; let us be real or much better live and let live. what will it be for you? me? them?
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Post by podp on Sept 2, 2012 20:21:36 GMT 3
'denial does not represent liberation for those concerned, but rather a flight from reality'... and blindly in pursuit towards self deception, I would add. Very true podp. Absolutely true! This is a concept I always struggle to understand its roots. Why do people have to firmly stick to denial and therefore deceive themselves. Why do they? Even when we are confronted with simple logical observations of things that matter to us, you cannot fail to see that there are quite a few who are so rigid and entrenched in their beliefs, their narrow perception cannot and will not be altered even by God!. With these, it is immaterial what logical arguments you bring with your arguments. Their position has been established and that will not change. No way. There is another 'cause' in their minds. How that cause is true, depends on the side of the 'divide' one is in. It is a matter of their secret inner selves. That which they passionately seek to acquire and achieve, cannot be declared and explained in the open. Its justification is solidly wrapped exclusively within the bearer's heart. Theirs is loyalty to be paid to their 'inner vow' and any logic has to bend towards their quest and not vice versa! In your other post you talk about the hypothesis on ‘education and tolerance’, which is a good question to seek answers for, but which at the same time, seems to have omitted one fundamental component on matter of 'thoughts'; that component is the subject’s own ‘personality’ as an individual. The term 'Personality' in itself is not a single component. It is rather a combination of various personal attributes which together they form the individual's 'personality traits'. Personality traits are formed out of amalgamation of various factors, sometimes influenced by the individual subject's environmental influences. The environmental influences are beyond control of anyone who may find themselves within a given any. Such is the determination of one's 'Karma' and Karma is what will give birth to the subsequent living of its bearer. To understand what such hypothesis can bring about, Meeguna has provided us with a wonderful sample through his memoirs. But I can almost guarantee you that even if we discuss and analyse his story for another twelve months to come, I doubt it if we will ever get to understand everything about him as an individual. Human beings are some very complex creatures! 1st red highlight Teacher told us Dialogue is the encounter between men, mediated by the world, in order to name the world. Hence, dialogue cannot occur between those who want to name the world and those who do not wish this naming — between those who deny others the right to speak their word and those whose right to speak has been denied them. My simple answer tou your question is 'fear of freedom'. While dominated by the fear of freedom they refuse to appeal to others, or to listen to the appeals of others, or even to the appeals of their own conscience. Pinker has done 'remarkable works' depending on which side you belong. In his 2011 tome, The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined he continues the exploration of the essence of human nature, mixing psychology and history to provide a remarkable picture of an increasingly nonviolent world. The key, he explains, is to understand our intrinsic motives- the inner demons that incline us toward violence and the better angels that steer us away-and how changing circumstances have allowed our better angels to prevail. His critics 'amused' me and I share one instance below dwelling on genocide. “Pinker also follows the party-line on Rwanda. He takes it as unquestionable that mass killings of 1994 were a Hutu-based slaughter of “700,000 Tutsis…in just four months by about 10,000 [Hutu] men with machetes….,” and that poor Bill Clinton “was haunted by his own failure to act” to stop the killings. (339) Pinker is clearly unaware of the fact that Clinton did act—to get the UN to remove its troops just as the mass killing was escalating in April 1994, contrary to the desires of the Hutu leaders, but in line with the demands and interests of the U.S.-supported and militarily dominant Rwandan Patriotic Front, led by the Tutsi Paul Kagame.[81] Pinker is also evidently ignorant of the facts that Paul Kagame was responsible for the April 6, 1994 shooting-down of the jet carrying Hutu president Juvenal Habyarimana that triggered the mass killing, that Kagame’s forces moved into action within two hours of the shoot-down, and easily conquered Rwanda within one hundred days; and that the Clinton administration then and U.S. officials now are staunch supporters of the Kagame regime.[82] There is good reason to believe that more Hutus than Tutsis were killed during this Kagame conquest of state power in Rwanda.[83] Pinker also fails to tie this successful U.S.-supported conquest and genocide with the sequel Kagame invasion of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which was the second U.S.-supported genocide in this region. It is no coincidence that here also, as with the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Pinker takes issue with higher-end estimates of the death toll.” www.globalresearch.ca/reality-denial-apologetics-for-western-imperial-violence/in a nutshel my answer then to the red highlight is 'Fear of freedom'. This is what Teacher said. Fear of freedom, of which its possessor is not necessarily aware, makes him see ghosts. Such an individual is actually taking refuge in an attempt to achieve security, which he or she prefers to the risk of liberty. Men and women rarely admit their fear of freedom openly, however tending rather to camouflage it. They confuse freedom with the maintenance of the status quo; so your questions threaten to place that status quo on the receiving end i.e. answering hard questions in our context impunity, corruption, use of violence to maintain themselves in positions of welding power, etc. 2nd red highlight will munch it slowly and try and conjure up something when the new week starts. let me listen to Mama Rainbow, Charity Ngilu who, launched her presidential bid. mobilization and the event was well executed. her 5 agenda should become political talking points. she excuded courage and clarity that Kenya needs in leaders.
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Post by podp on Sept 2, 2012 16:29:22 GMT 3
Nicholas Githuku shared with me this via email.Miguna Miguna, Peeling Back the Mask: A Quest for Justice in Kenya (London: Gilgamesh Africa, 2012) From the outside looking in: An unconventional book review for an eccentric book By Nicholas GithukuLet's me start by asking, first and foremost, how did you acquire your copy of this book? Hopefully, you're not reading the free PDF. That's cheating the author out of his royalty. With that said, I got mine after getting at a bookshop in Nairobi where all the eight-hundred copies they had received from the distributor a day after the book was launched, had been sold, all in a matter of minutes. That was the Monday 16th July after the book launch over the weekend. So, I waited for the next tranche for a few hours. Returning back at the bookshop, I walked up to the cashier who had earlier assured me of a reserved copy. To pick up my promised copy, he surreptitiously advised me to walk to the back of the shop where there was a chap who was quietly but quickly handing out copies to buyers once payment was made. As I approached the back room, I heard this guy tell a customer who'd just bought the book, "Oh, man...this is Kenya...." I guess the question to which he must have been responding must have been, "...Why are you not putting out the book on the shelves as you do with all other publications...?" ...Anyway, that's how I got my copy, ...quietly under the counter" and proceeded to devour it all in a matter of forty-eight hours. That was easy because the book reads easily: lyrically. What do I think about the book and the author? I have read many books and articles and written many a good reviews about them but, I could “never write a review of this book” even if I wanted: I want to read it again and think deeply about the things Miguna Miguna says in it before I can say this or that about it. So read this as a review before the real review of this book. After reading many halfbaked commentaries and "reviews" and watching television interviews of people who acknowledged not having skimmed but a few pages in both the print and electronic media, I think Miguna's getting a lot of unwarranted flak as bitterly as he might have been while pouring out words onto the written page. Indeed, anticipating such accusations of conceiving the book under other-than-ideal circumstances that he hadn't chosen, hence the bitterness and settling of scores theme that runs through his book, Miguna admits (p.502) that he too is human. Yes, he was angry and bitter: "I am human and have a right to feel angry and bitter." But there are parts of the book that are, redeeming in a way if they're not calculated to earn him public sympathy. Like when he writes (p. 327) that most of the time he defended and stood up for Raila not because he loved him (Raila) but because he cared for the country too. But then, in the same vein he writes, "Without a doubt I did...love him...," which is something only but a few men, especially African men, dare deign to say especially in the recorded word. Indeed, the book is not all drawn daggers and piercing spears thrown at Raila. There are times I found Raila being painted as the good guy and Miguna as the arch agitator-antagonist especially in the heady days following the much-disputed presidential elections of 2007. In the chapters where as the leading general, Miguna felt that he had to ran to the rescue of his literally crying boss (p.241) as the National Accord deal of February 2008 started getting sour, he (Miguna) emerges as the King of "Antagonia" thriving in an environment of discord while peddling mistrust in the name of managing the coalition and constitutional affairs. On the singular basis of what I have read in Miguna’s book, I can scarcely blame Caroli Omondi for going “on national television to cast aspersions against” Miguna claiming that he was “responsible for the conflict within the coalition government” (p.308). The author doesn’t hide the truth about his shark-like confrontational character. Apparently, Raila was a flip-flop and a coward who trembled and crumbled in the presence of President Kibaki who times out of count short-changed him and edged him out of the power-sharing deal. This did not please the ODM First General, (p.298), Raila’s “strongest …defender, thinker, writer and fire-fighter,” Miguna, who wanted "more real power" for Raila and the party. But his boss "seemed to have accepted his small role in government and to resent" Miguna's suggestion "that he use sharp elbows to better his position" (p.279). In a way, Raila had, therefore, failed to live up to Miguna's egoistic but mostly, protective expectations. Reading these middle chapters, I was dumbfounded at the pettiness that Miguna shamelessly sank into in the name of what he calls "more real power" (p. 279) and “real power sharing” (p.278) over and beyond what his erstwhile boss and ODM had been able to secure under the National Accord. Curiously, this simplistic perception of power entailed how the Principals’ seats were arranged around the table and who was to sit where at “the very first meeting of the Permanent Committee on the Management of the Grand Coalition Affairs” at the end of March 2009 (p.272) and who was supposed to have which rooms at Kilaguni in April 2009. Of the latter, probably seeing the folly of it all, Miguna writes that some of these things "might look small or petty for those unfamiliar with how power is played, especially in coalition arrangements" (p.282). Say what! Kenyans did not turn out, all the nine million of them to vote for a coalition government that would expend most of its time babysitting the coalition arrangement: as Miguna confesses, "since the formation of the coalition government," such "protocol issues" such as speaking behind curtains (p.283) determining where around the table the principals were to sit and who got what room in a holiday resort "…occupied a lot of our time" (p.279). This was at the expense of running the country Miguna! Or was that your way of serving your country? This is downright petty and don't you get me started on many other instances of petty stuff that Miguna recounts in this book. For me, there’s absolutely no correlation between “the brouhaha over ‘the pecking order in government’” (p.326) and the active, efficient and productive running and management of public affairs for the benefit of the ordinary Kenyan mwananchi/citizen. From this reading, it would seem that political leaders in Kenya are more preoccupied with the perks, trappings and symbols of power like the presidential lectern “…bearing the national emblem;” being in the presidential programme;mobile toilets; state entrances to parliament; the ceremonial Sika ‘dwa, the Golden Stool otherwise referred to as “state ceremonial chairs;” “a large national flag, presidential flags …and a neatly dressed brass band….” (Pp.250-251). For this reason, there are times I found myself thinking, well, kwa kweli, nyani haonikundule huliona la mwenziwe/the ape does not see his own backside, he sees his companion's. Certainly, Migunasometimes does take a holier-than-thou attitude whereby he's always right and everyone else wrong always. Someone in the media has said that Miguna Miguna is bigger than life such that he needed to be named twice but reading this chap made me think that he had such a huge ego he'd to have the same name twice! So, let's stop and talk about Miguna's sense of self-importance and exalted self-righteousness. Before I ever reached page 471 where Miguna quotes what Makau Mutua thought of him, that he (Miguna) "confused himself with Mr. Odinga," I found myself thinking the same on page 328-329. Yet I had never heard of Miguna before he launched his book. Raila, he says, in these two pages, liked his (Miguna’s) work a whole lot: "...he not only loved my style; he also agreed wholeheartedly with virtually all my thoughts and opinions. ...He assigned me the role of responding to media questions and written interviews for him and would authorize me to forward the same for publication without correcting my answers." I have penciled in the margins of my copy against this text, "So you (Miguna) thought you had become the Prime Minister?" After reading the book in its entirety, I am convinced that this is more than likely to have happened to Miguna, at least subconsciously. That is, Miguna in his own mind had become Raila, and therefore, the Prime Minister. So much so that he might have even thought himself better than his boss hence Miguna's fear that some "...might have believed" that he was "too close to the succession equation within Luo Nyanza" (p.338). With that said, Miguna embarks upon the job he sets out to accomplish with relish and considerable effect. That is, that of peeling back Raila's mask, which he does quite successfully. Miguna convincingly on account of adduced evidence, and I believe he withheld even more damning proof, proves that his former boss is pro the status quo. He effectively demolishes Raila as the paragon of change and reform in Kenya's politics. In his estimation, “Raila is evil –pure, undiluted evil” (p.544) and a flip-flop who doesn’t even deserve the title “leader.” According to Miguna, Raila“couldn't even manage even a group of squirrels"(p.407). Of course, as noted, Miguna is less than honest because as he unmasks Kenya’s most “enigmatic” hitherto leader of the Second Liberation, he hides his own face and role, and therefore, culpability, behind the mask of his many words. Yes, he ably carries the message and builds an incontrovertible case that is crystal clear and upheld by copious evidence, no doubt: that "Raila has demonstrated, time and again, that he is an ardent defender of the status quo" (p.322 & also 338, 349 & 353). Miguna does this splendidly discounting the said bitterness or in spite of it and allowing his critical and brilliant legal mind shine-through some of the more analytical parts of the book. But in as much as he uses this God-given gift of writing to peel back many masks, and while he seeks to "use words carefully and deliberately citing others who did the same with equal lethal effect like Lenin, Marx, Biko and Havel (to whom he attributes the quote, "'...words are mysterious, ambiguous, ambivalent, and perfidious phenomenon. They can be rays of light in a realm of darkness ...They can equally be lethal arrows,'") (p,338) Miguna, intentionally or inadvertently, chooses to use many words to mask his complicity in it all, and therein lies his own duplicity. While he readily acknowledges his frail humanity that entitles him to bitterness and anger, Miguna doesn’t extend the same to Raila who,according to Miguna, has the worldly streak of the love for money, power (p. 349) and other attendant pleasures. A good example of this is when Miguna tries to exculpate himself for not blowing the whistle after the rigging of ODM officials’ elections in Kasarani: he writes, “I apologise profusely to ODM members, specifically, and to Kenyans in general. I’m a human being with human frailties like any other person. I mistakenly believed that Raila acquiring power so that he could transform Kenya was more important than the electoral infractions he had committed to get the ODM nominations.” This is a double-faced admission of guilt that demonstrates that the author is not even honest to himself. It would really have served the book well to state simply that despite all his shortcomings, Raila, like the rest of us, is not (a political) “superman.” But when all is said and done, Miguna’s words are, indeed, rays of light in the realm of darkness that the Kenyan political system can be and has been. Miguna makes a contribution to the ever approaching dawn in Kenyan politics that cannot be taken lightly or be dismissed out of hand. I will leave the many examples of rapacious greed akin to only that of the army worms of Lambwe Valley (p.15), only that the “eating with impunity as if there is no tomorrow” out of public coffers takes place in the corridors of power stomped on by the high and the mighty in Kenya, for you, the reader, to discover for yourself. For now, let it suffice to say that the one thing that Miguna does indefatigably and with remarkable passion is to unmask Kenya's political system, how it has functioned over the years and its status as of when he served. When he is not casting Raila in bad light, besmirching and blistering his public image as part of his revenge mission for his rather indecent dismissal, Miguna aptly encapsulates (and this in so many instances) who, or more aptly, what we have become, and wherewe are headed as a nation. If we allow ourselves to be open-minded, our dulled collective conscience can be stirred to see that, indeed, we as the people of Kenya have fallen short of our ideals, aspirations and core values that we cherish. In reading this welcome and refreshing book, I found myself thinking that after this realization, we can then rise from the ashes of our sordid past together. Refreshing? You ask: yes, Miguna's book is refreshing at several levels. As he observes, we cannot have enough of such personal, first accounts of public servants relating their experiences of the intricacies and the inner workings of the Leviathan, which isthe behemoth and juggernaut of Government of Kenya. I have never been in anybody's government before and I may never be, especially and as long as the more “change” we have in Kenya, the more things remain the same as Miguna proves. Like the Michela Wrong book based on the experiences of Kenya’s foremost whistle-blower, John Githongo who was the 2002 NARC government anti-corruption czar,Peeling Back the Mask is a most welcome breathe of fresh air, I dare say. It is an act of truth-telling, as relative as that may be, or to be more apt, an estimation of truth that will water the struggling little bud of democracy in Kenya. Speaking as an outsider (one who has never served in government and who lives outside the country) I gleaned numerous little "facts" about what happened where, who did what and when that I didn't know previously: so, refreshing, but not in a particularly empowering way. Indeed, drinking up these refreshingly new pieces of facts, I was mostly outraged and disgusted. However, the margins of my copy of Peeling Back the Mask are replete with check marks that attest the brilliance of the legal mind behind it. To relate but a few instances of the keenness of analysis and moments of truth, they include: the manner in which Miguna dissects the issue of placing judges under “performance contracts” (pp. 320-321);former President Moi’s controversial Kiptagichfarm and the issue of the Mau Forest Complex (p.3219-331); the fact Raila isn’t always told the truth by those close to him (p.499) and the need for Kenyan politics to break away with the past characterized by sycophancy, lies, bribes and falsity at the expense of “honest and unadulterated views from…below” and openness, “a kind of politics without rancor, hate and negative propaganda…a politics solely based on issues” (p.454-455); that Kenyans will soon break out of the politicized ethnic cocoons and “begin focusing more on ‘bread-and-butter’ issues and less on ethnicity” (p.487& p.415); his extensive thoughts on the ICC with regard to the Post-Election Violence in Kenya (between 2007 and 2008) in pages 381 to 407);the fact that, in Kenya, “the process of wealth accumulation and retention is shrouded in muck” (p.350); and various references to major corruption scandals in recent years among many other pertinent issues raised in the book, which I will leave for individual readers to judge for themselves the veracity and importance on a case to case basis. However, I must add that this book says nothing that is really new. The public characters and times, as well as locations of rapacity may be different but the grand corruption is the same. Peeling Back the Mask is thus a book about our past and presentbeautiful Kenyan mess. Our fine and lovely, little mess. There areno new truths in it per se. I also dare say that it is not truth that we lack in Kenya comrade Miguna. It is not liberation-courage, the courage to liberate ourselves, either. What we lack is the courage to harness the power of the truth/s about us as a people to transform ourselves and our lives and that of future generations and chart our great destiny as a nation. What we lack is the humility to recognize ourselves when we take an honest look at the image in the Githongo and Miguna mirror, and from thereon actively and collectively start to extricate ourselves out of our miry mess, guided by the spirit of forgiveness and mutual understanding and re/conciliation. This book, in as much as it may be personal pay back, and as much as it related very personal squabbles, as opposed to people-focused and issue-based politics of Kenya, should serve to remind us that our problems are not "personal" or because of certain people but largely institutional, systemic and, therefore, societal. Now that we have made constitutional changes, and are guided by our national vision 2030, anything is possible and it is possible to start afresh and mend our rend body politic together.Nicholas Githuku is a PhD student at West Virginia University, Department of History (ngithuku@mix.wvu.edu). Be sure to look up on Facebook the “Peeling Back the Mask: A Quest for Justice in Kenya Book Discussion Group" for a wider and more exciting discussion of readers' impressions and reflections of the book or writing an email to the reviewer. the sun is shining when there is no cloud cover in Thika and Nairobi today and the red highlight even if with typos is a good Sunday summon "I think fitting in is highly overrated. I'd rather just fit out... Fitting out means being who you are, even when people insist that you have to change. Fitting out means taking up space, not apologizing for yourself, and not agreeing with those who seek to label you with stereotypes." by Golda Poretsky
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Post by podp on Sept 2, 2012 16:22:25 GMT 3
Eichner Thanks so much for this. I did wonder very much why Podp was always posting straight away to cover up my arguments against the nuke-bomb energy plant in Kenya, sometimes with completely irrelevant articles. And thanks to the administrator for taking parts by posting his "Whistleblower" stuff too in support for his "Comrade". Kumbe wananienjoy the all-time. So now you can dump the thread full of your praise of the nuke-bomb and maybe it might help you get back to your thick paycheck which you know very well you will just be eating tax-payers money as long as you guys still pretend to be doing feasibility study. Am very disappointed and end my part in this thread (and will terminate my membership too) in which i took so dear to me and have put a lot of time and work on it! Jukwaa iko na wenyewe Kasuku then you have allowed the mis-information propagandist to win, that is what they wanted aim is to reduce the voices of reason and truth on Jukwaa in order for them to continue their agenda, If like minded Kenyans gave up without saying no to corruption, no to impunity, the fight for our Human right then the New Constitution could have never been enacted.. I say stick around and face them heads-on.. you will beat them in the end.. the truth can never be replaced with propaganda and lies red highlight I fully agree with you and invite all to take a stroll at Exposing the invisible www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/nick_veasey_exposing_the_invisible_1.html
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Post by podp on Sept 2, 2012 16:13:08 GMT 3
More from the Toboa Ukweli folks:
More on the Rot in the Kenya Nuclear Electricity Project
By the Toboa Ukweli team
The mismanagement of the Kenya Nuclear Electricity Project, with the controversial George Ochilo Ayako [/color] at the helm as the Executive Chairman threatens to scuttle the international goodwill that Kenya has enjoyed from such key partners as the International Atomic Energy Agency.[/b] By banishing David Otwoma , the nuclear scientist seconded by the Public Service Commission to serve as Secretary to the Nuclear Electricity Project’s board, Mr. Ayako has effectively undermined the credibility of the KNEP in its attempts at resource mobilization. Below is an excerpt from an email dispatched from the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency to officials of the Kenya Nuclear Electricity Project now working without the valuable and critical technical input from Mr. Otwoma: From: x.xxxxxx [mailtox.xxxxxx@iaea.org] Sent: 22 June 2012 04:28 To: Boniface Kinyanjui; Winnie Ndubai
Subject: Concept for 2014-2015
Boniface&Winnie,
This is to inform you that what you presented as a concept for 2014/2015 cycle could not measure up of what is expected. There is now a window for you to rework on your conceptand submit the same by next week otherwise there will be nothing for Nuclear power. It maybe worth while to consider consulting David Otwoma as he is familiar on what is expected and has been a valuable local and international expert nuclear project formulations.
What was event from what you presented is that you did not understand how to link your current project with the next. In other words you are not sure what do to next after this project!!
Please urgently revert back to me if you are determined to do so. x.xxxxxxx
And in a veiled reference to the continued marginalization of David Otwoma the same official sent the following email:
From: x.xxxxxx <x.xxxxxxi@iaea.org> Date: Thu, May 31, 2012 at 4:05 PM Subject: RE: Concept for 2014-15 cycle: KEN2005 To: bwwekesa@xxx.xx Cc: bkkinyanjui@xxxx.xxx To: Boniface Wekesa Wanyama P.O. BOX 30623-00100, National Council for Science and Technology, NAIROBI,Kenya.
Please if possible advise the formulators of the next CPN on Nuclear Energy accordingly as per our excellent discussions. We will be in Kenya and will welcome more deliberations with all, especially the Kenyan experts who are highly regarded here but unfortunately you ar under utilizing them. Best regards, x.xxxxxx
Our sources inform us that absence of Mr. Otwoma from the day to day running of the Nuclear Electricity Project seems to have had a negative financial and monetary impact on the activities of the project. Of the allocated 200 Million last financial year (July 2011 to June 2012) a whopping 50 Million Kenya Shillings was taken back by Treasury presumably because the Kenya Nuclear Electricity Project was unable to utilize this amount that had already been budgeted for before it was allocated. As you can see from the attached Excel file, more than half of the funds allocated for travel and training was spent by the Executive Chairman, raising audit concerns as these disbursements were not per the performance contract signed by the Secretary. Mr. Otwoma’s focus in requesting the money for travel and training was to have young, technical competent Kenyans with professional aspirations benefit from such support with the projected goal that after ten years it is this generation of Kenyans who would be in charge when the country was on the cusp of rolling out its nuclear program for peaceful economic activities. Other related audit queries had to do with the large expenditure used to pay the 13 Committee Members when they purported to meet (with some of these meetings totally outside the mandate of that committee). In a case of grand coalition collusion in corrupt and unethical activities, the minister for energy who is from the PNU side seems to be in cahoots with the Executive Chairman, a former cabinet minister and an insider in the ODM party. Information at our disposal indicates that the minister appears to have handpicked 12 people from his back yard, including a potential in law to be placed under questionable circumstances within the Nuclear Electricity Project. A spouse of a senior manager at a state corporation under the aegis of the same ministry is among those irregularly deployed. The wife of an assistant minister who is a close ally to the minister in question is part of that tally giving rise to questions of probity within the new constitutional dispensation. We know all these individuals by their full names and we have chosen to with hold their identities for now along with other sordid personal details not yet in the public domain. Of the 40 opportunities given to Kenyans to study for six weeks at Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University earlier this year, only 27 Kenyans eventually went as the Chairman was reported to be demanding kick backs. KIRDI coughed 1,500,000 kshs to send two people, Kenya Bureau of Standards a similar amount to send a man with his wife; Kenya Power too to sent the afore said spouse of the senior manager together with one technically competent person; Radiation Protection Board only sent one person while the officer at the other end feigned illness at last moment to keep the cash; KenGen paid but gave the Chairman to use at his discretion so he pocketed half and paid for a lady he is supposed to be very close to.He also rewarded the Human Resource Manager and the Financial manager for being obedient by letting them also go for the course even though the trip was meant for technical staff connected to nuclear electricity project. Watch this space! Stay tuned for more![/size] [/quote] Now, check these so called whistleblowers from 'the Toboa Ukweli team' and their connections to the Who-Is-Who on Jukwaa!! May you please, the reader, be the judge!! Little wonder, this thread is Podp's personal baby!! I hope this rings other bells!!! From: "otwomad" <Otwomad@...> Date: Thu Oct 27, 2005 1:13 pm Subject: Re: A Case of Cowardly Online Censorship
OO wa Canada,
Take heart.
Today I will sleep in Trier (a town is Southern Germany) where Karl Marx was born (1818). The town had 9,000 inhabitants then. His parents house at Brückensrasse 10 has been transformed into a Museum. The main attraction in the residence is showing the stations in Marx's biography i.e. Trier, Bonn, Berlin, Brussels (in Belgium) and London (in UK) as well as the development of socialism and communism. The house courtyard and extensive garden demonstrates a comfortable family background. The top storey contains rare first editions and autographs, among them two volumes of poetry dedicated to his father.
I walked from the house where he grew up across Porta Nigra on his way to school along Simeonstrasse to the old Latin school. Where he was confirmed was variously remodeled and expanded Gothic Franciscan Church of the holy Trinity (13th century), Jesuit Church (after 1561), seat of the Temple of Reason (after 1794), Protestant Church (after 1815), Catholic (1857). Next door is the old Jesuit college/Latin school (Renaissance library reading room from 1615; Karl Marx went to school here) and part of the old university (1775); today the comples houses part of the theological seminary, the seminary library and diocese archives.
He cheated in his maths exam to make it to university! So dubbing as we called it when we were at UoN started long time ago.
I also took a stroll to the house of his girl friend and later wife, Jenny von Westphalen. Also to the former hotel where in 1863, he stayed for the last time in Trier.
Maybe with Rev and +Fr Awr praying I can prey an ex-relative of Marx.
Otwoma www.jukwaa.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=198&page=1[/quote]Jeff, Podp,No, no, no! Not so fast guys. You still gotta tell us exactly what it is that MM wrote about the PM that made you see the light! One liners or two paragraphs like yours above is/are not informative at all. We are talking about a tome with over 500 pages here. Surely, you got more to tell us than your current performance above. Remember, you are still on Jukwaa!! Some of us have not read the book and so we need objective analysis. einstein, in red above you wanted an objective analysis Podp,If this was directed at me, then I say thank you very much. You have saved me a lot of time and hence money! And if you think I am a Raila-damu, then by the same token you are Anti-Raila and a Miguna Miguna-damu. How do you like that? Please advise your deity Miguna Miguna next time to pen a factual tome and not a he-said-she-said stuff like he did in Peeling Back His Own Mask. O.k? now you are doing a Hegelian twist! Just so that we are on the same page as regards philosophy. Let me psychoanalyze you for fun. Just to humor myself. We start with a proposal. Hegel said ‘we find in consciousness itself a fundamental hostility towards every other consciousness’ The subject can be posed only in being opposed. You are setting yourself up as the Essential, as opposed to the Other (me), the Inessential, the Object. But the Other (me) consciousness, the other ego, sets up a reciprocal claim! That is your aim which sorry Einstein I will not grant you. You cannot be my Master nor am I willing to be your Slave. I know that a Master and Slave, also, are united by a reciprocal need, in this case economic, which does not liberate the slave. And in your little world RAO and MM are united by a reciprocal need! One to be PORK and the Other to prevent One being PORK. A simplistic world indeed or you find that complex? I assume you are able to follow. We ratchet this up a note higher. Let me politely decline to be the Other i.e. I refuse to be a party to the deal of saying if you are RAO damu I need to be MM damu or PNU damu or even to make you an ally ODM damu. But remember the deity (RAO) has said MM is a Mad Man not Miguna Miguna in the kitendawili. The category of the Other is as primordial as consciousness itself. To you its RAO-MM so by extension you would have Uranus-Zeus (opposing gods in Greek mythology), Sun-Moon (One is a Star the Other just a satellite of any planet rotating around the Star), and Day-Night than it was in the contrasts between Good (RAO in your simplistic world) and Evil (MM in your real and imaginary i.e. dreams worlds), lucky and unlucky auspices, right and left, God (your hope of joining RAO when he goes to Nineveh i.e. becomes PORK) and Lucifer (MM's father and mother and you hope he joined them now). Otherness is a fundamental category of human thought. So be proud you are not the Other but the One. Now that you are the One and since MM is not standing to be PORK why waste your valuable time and energy on a non starter? Just listen to your deity (RAO) and we are home and dry with this debate closed. My conclusion as I humor myself for the new week is 'denial does not represent liberation for those concerned, but rather a flight from reality'. Have a safe flight.[/quote] jukwaa.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=7183&page=13
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